Our School

Two of our Crusader Hall of Honor honorees, Tony Hanson '73 and Fran Morrello '72 will both be inducted into the Hank O'Donnell Hall of Fame this Thursday, October 9 at Municipal Stadium. A cocktail honor, sponsored by Post University, will be held from 5:00-6:00pm, followed by the ceremony in the Hank O'Donnell Hall of Fame Room. A bourbon tasting, hosted by Litchfield Distillery will be held after the event. We encourage all members of our Holy Cross High School family to support Tony and Fran and attend this event.

Tony Hanson '73 (posthumous honor), an American basketball player, was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in the third round of the 1977 NBA draft. He was an exceptional player during his time on Oronoke Road. After graduating from Holy Cross, Tony attended the University of Connecticut where he had a stellar athletic career. He led his team, winders of the ECAC New England Championship, to a Sweet 16 appearance. He was also the Yankee conference Rookie of the Year in 1974 and was the All-Yankee Conference First Team pick in 1975 and 1976. He was named New England Player of the Year in his senior year. He was named to the UConn Basketball All-Century Team in 2001 and the Huskies of Honor in 2007. He has spent the bulk of his professional career playing and coaching overseas in Italy, France, Northern Ireland and England.

He is also an Education Management and Business specialist who works with specific clients to monitor their existing administration/business practices, identify weaknesses and then recommend options and solutions for them. Currently, he is the Program Director for the Hartford Knights Youth Organization and a Business Consultant for BT Solutions, LLC. Previously, he worked as the Director of Sports Academy at Middlesbrough College, Headteacher & Special Educational Teacher at Tess Valley School System, Director/Chairman of Middlesbrough Black and Minority Ethnic Network – Community Interest Company, Director, Chairman & Project Coordinator for Hoop Dreams Community Interest Company and a Special Education Teacher for Rockville High School, Windham High School and A I Prince Technical High School.

Fran Morrello '72 is a member of the first graduating class of Holy Cross High School, 1972. Fran grew up in the Town Plot section of Waterbury attending Mt. Carmel School. After graduating from Holy Cross, Fran attended Southern Connecticut State College. At Holy Cross, Fran played freshman baseball, intramural basketball, and was member of the golf team. In 1972, Fran was an All-State golfer for the Crusaders.

Fran has worked in golf or played golf since starting as a caddie at The Country Club of Waterbury in 1965. His career has taken him to Palm Springs, CA where he worked winters for the Bob Hope Desert Classic and Colgate Dinah Shore golf tournaments as well as Canyon South GC and to South Florida working at Turnberry Isle CC in North Miami and Hunters Run CC in Boynton Beach. Locally, Fran has been at East Mountain GC, Farmingbury Hills CC, Pomperaug GC, and The Country Club of Waterbury. He is currently at Canaan CC where he has been the Head Professional for 11 years. He has been a PGA Professional for 35 years. He has served on the CT PGA membership committee, tournament committee, and has been a rules official for the CT PGA Junior Golf Tour.

Fran has competed in hundreds of tournaments over the years starting in Jr. Golf in 1968. He has qualified and played in 12 Majors, which include 6 US Opens. Fran has been CT PGA Player of the year 15 times. In 2009, Fran was inducted to the CT State Golf Association Hall of Fame, and in 2013 the CT PGA Hall of Fame.

Fran has resided in Plymouth, CT since 1988, but will always consider himself a “Town Plotter.”